Ford Focus 1.6tdci - Juddering & now in Limp mode

[Woody3]

My Sister has a bit of an issue with her car.

She was heading along the M1, cruising around 70mph. Then all of a sudden it started to judder/hesitate ("kangarooing" she says). Every time she pressed the accelerator, she heard a fluttering noise coming from under the bonnet.

Anyway, she got off at the next junction, where it went into Limp mode. Red light on dash saying "Engine System Failure"

It's now sat on my drive. There was no smoke apparently or anything else unusual.

Any thoughts?

Car is a 2006 1.6tdci with circa 102k miles on the clock.

[BlackST]

http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/14582-p...

[Woody3]

Thanks BlackST.

Plugged in the computer today and it is indeed reading DPF Filter Blockage. Oh the joys of EU emissions.

Any idea what options she's got or is it a case of replacing the filter at a crippling cost? The fluid was only topped up last year as well.

[neiljohnson]

To sort the dpf you have a few options
1. Replace it although the price is coming down on these now so may be cheaper than you think
2. Send the old one away to be cleaned I've had a couple done & so far it's worked well does mean not having the car for a few days though
3. Have the stock dpf cut open & gutted then remap the ecu you will get
more power & better economy & as the outer shell is still there will still pass an mot.
I have done plenty of deletes & it always yields great results

[With these feet]

You can have the DPF cleaned in the car, its easier than removing and sending away. Company I buy lubricants from, who by the way supply Wurth, has the contract to do this to the Fiat fleet that the Post Office recently bought.

I replaced one on a focus about a year ago, bit of a fidly job even with a ramp. In the end still cost about £500 with the new DPF. Plus you need to have the light put out as well - though you can confuse it into a reset by turning the ignition off/on about 60 times!